Klein ISD was awarded a federal grant of roughly $178,000 to improve school security and safety programs, according to a Nov. 3 news release from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s office.

The overview

According to the news release, the grant can be used to:

• Bolster violence prevention training programs for law enforcement
• Purchase security items, including metal detectors and technology expediting the notification of local law enforcement during an emergency

Quote of note

“No parent should fear for the safety of their student when they drop them off at school, and no student or teacher should be afraid when they walk into the classroom,” Cornyn said in a statement. “In the aftermath of the tragedy in Uvalde, I’m grateful that meaningful solutions are being delivered through this funding to prevent violence in Texas schools.”

The background

Officials said the grant was funded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s School Violence Prevention Program, with a significant portion of the funding authorized by Cornyn’s bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The bill was approved in 2022 to address recent mass shootings.